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Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Telling our story

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,those he gathered from the lands,from east and west, from north and south.Psalm 107:1-3

It was a cold winter evening in west Texas when
a fishing buddy called, reminding me we had a baited trot-line in the creek . The coming winter stormwas described by the forecasters as being
accompanied by strong winds and freezing rain.Our plan was to make a quick trip to the creek to retrieve our trot line
so it wouldn't be destroyed when the storm arrived.

There we were in a flat-bottom boat,
rolling up the line which stretched across the creek.Suddenly the line became tight and began to
move around quickly.We both had a hand
on the line, attempting to pull in our catch, but I was about to decide this
fish was trying to catch us.I caught a
glimpse of the fish's head and open mouth when it made a jump out of the water,
landing right next to the boat and drenching us with extremely cold water. The
fight continued and we ultimately brought in the 25 pound yellow catfish.

I told you my fish story just to get to
this part. When we arrived back in town, carrying the fish in the back of the
truck, we went to the homes of several of our friends and woke them up to come
outside in the cold, just to see that fish.Most became excited, just like us.Others thought the news could have waited until morning.Personally, I wanted everyone to know about
that fish.

The Psalmist in chapter 107 gives us
pictures of redemption. Some were wandering in desert wastelands, not knowing
one direction from another. They were in hopeless situations experiencing
hunger and thirst. They were lost and they knew it. Their lives were ebbing
away. When they cried out to the Lord, he delivered them and led them to a city
where they could settle.

Some were in prison, suffering in darkness
and the pain of being in iron chains. Their disobedience and rebellion had
brought them to rock bottom. They cried out to the Lord, and he delivered them
from their distress.

Still others were suffering the results of
their rebellious ways and suffered afflictions because of their sins. In their
cry to God, he sent out his words of healing and they were literally rescued
from the grave.

Is it any wonder, the Psalmist started the
Psalm with the encouragement for the redeemed to tell their story?Or, as other versions say it, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!"

We have some stories to tell.More important than our fish stories,
investment stories, grand-kid stories, or any other stories, let's be the
redeemed of the Lord, telling our story.